Oct. 25, 2008

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes

DETROIT - The Wayne State University football team (7-2 overall, 6-2 GLIAC) claimed its seventh win of the season, the most since 1983 (7-3), with a 14-7 victory over visiting Hillsdale College (5-4, 4-4) Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.

The win moved the Warriors into a tie for second place, after Ashland dropped a 48-42 decision at Grand Valley on Saturday evening.

WSU's defense was the story of the contest facing a Hillsdale offense which was third in the GLIAC in both passing yards per game (262.1) and total yards (403.0), and fourth in scoring (29.5 points per game).

The Chargers passed for 241 yards and were held to 315 total yards and seven points. The Wayne State defense entered the game ranked eighth nationally in both turnover margin (+1.63 per game) and scoring defense (allowing 13.6 ppg). WSU had three takeaways (two interceptions and one fumble recovery in the end Warrior end zone) and held an opponent to 10 points or less for the sixth time this season.

After WSU punted on the opening drive of the game, Hillsdale drove to the WSU 33, but on fourth-and-one Vinnie Panizzi was stopped just short of the first down marker (after a measurement) by senior defensive backs Steve Wisniewski (Madison Hts., Mich./Lamphere) and Cornelius Dillard (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres).

Following another Warrior punt (this one of 16 yards into the wind), the Chargers went 38 yards on two plays with A.J. Kegg hauling in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Troy Weatherhead. Mark Petro's PAT made it 7-0 for Hillsdale.

WSU punted on its next two drives as the Warriors had eight carries for one yard in the opening 15 minutes.

A Hillsdale drive that started late in the first quarter ended up being a 10-play, 50-yard drive but Weatherhead's fourth down pass was broken up by senior safety Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly), who moved into sole possession of third place on the WSU all-time passes defended list (interceptions plus break-ups).

The teams exchanged punts with the Warriors taking over on their own 44 with 6:13 left in the first half. Two Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) runs for 15 yards, preceded a 23-yard pass play from freshman quarterback Kevin Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) to sophomore wide receiver Ed Sanders (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance). Two more Bell runs and a pass interference call on Hillsdale in the end zone resulted in a first down at the two. Bell rushed up the middle for a two-yard score with 3:07 remaining.

The Chargers drove into WSU territory but freshman cornerback Myles McNichols (Battle Creek, Mich./Central) grabbed his first career interception in the final 40 seconds.

On the opening drive of the second half, Hillsdale drove inside the WSU five but Panizzi fumbled on a first-and-goal from the three and WSU senior linebacker Tristan Black (Toronto, Ont./Vanier Prep) recovered.

WSU failed to convert a fourth down play on the ensuing drive and Hillsdale punted on its next possession, the first of five consecutive punts for the teams combined.

The last punt was downed at the WSU 33 with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter. Two runs each by Bell and senior Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) accounted for 22 yards. Three straight Bell runs gained 17 yards with Graham carrying twice for 10 yards. On a second-and-seven from the Hillsdale 18, the Chargers were flagged for offsides. On the very next play, Bell went around left end for 12 yards and followed it up with a one-yard touchdown run with 2:47 on the clock.

Hillsdale gained 28 yards on its first two plays before an incomplete pass by Weatherhead. On third down to avoid the sack, Weatherhead tossed the ball backwards with the "fumble" being recovered by offensive lineman Jared Veldheer. After a Charger timeout, Weatherhead was intercepted on fourth down by Dunn, his third of the season (a career-high) and seventh of his career.

WSU gained nine yards on three plays but punted to the HC 28. Weatherhead completed back-to-back passes to Panizzi (12 yards) and Aaron Waldie (14 yards) before having his final pass broken up by freshman safety Jeremy Jones (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rockford).

Bell led all rushers with 140 yards on 29 carries, while Panizzi gained 88 yards on 24 attempts for Hillsdale.

Smith completed 10-of-16 for 96 yards with freshman Don Brown (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) grabbing a career-high four passes for 32 yards.

Weatherhead connected on 23 of 34 passes for 241 yards but was intercepted twice. Kegg led all receivers with eight catches for 122 yards.

Bell, after being held to 57 yards on 16 carries through 45 minutes, rushed for 83 yards on 13 carries in the final quarter.

Wayne State visits Northwood next Saturday, before returning to Adams Field for the regular season finale against Grand Valley on November 8. WSU is 5-0 at home for the first time since 1974.

Notes:

Joique Bell became WSU's career rushing leader on his 25-yard carry on WSU's first play of the fourth quarter. Bell entered the final period with 4,201 rushing yards (three behind Joe Gough's all-time mark of 4,204).

Bell increased his GLIAC rushing yards total (GLIAC GAMES ONLY) to 4,049, which ranks third all-time. His GLIAC all-purpose yards mark improved to 5,017, which also ranks third all-time. Bell has 342 GLIAC points, which ranks third behind Michigan Tech's Lee Marana (344 -- 2003-06) and Grand Valley's David Kircus (348 -- 1999-02).

The WSU defense held the Hillsdale offense to 0-for-1 in the red zone. The Chargers were at 84.4 percent (38-45) entering the game averaging nearly six red zone opportunities per contest.

The win was head coach Paul Winters' 20th at WSU (not counting the Saginaw Valley forfeit).

The last time WSU won five straight at home was actually eight straight from September 24, 1983, through October 13, 1984.